Details of lobbyists’ contacts with ministers would be revealed monthly, Premier Campbell Newman announced in the wake of controversy involving two cabinet members.

The Queensland opposition has called for Arts Minister Ros Bates to be referred to Parliament's Ethics Committee over her lobbyist register, a day after she was admitted to hospital following a fall.

Ms Bates's office said three vertebrae had been fractured in Sunday's incident.

Arts Minister Ros Bates. Photo: Harrison Saragossi

“Scans have confirmed that Minister Bates has fractures of the transverse processes of her second, third and fourth lumbar vertebrae, following a fall at her home,” a spokeswoman said in a statement.

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“She will remain in hospital for the rest of the week and is not expected back at work for several weeks.”

The opposition pursued Ms Bates in Parliament last week over details of her lobbyist register and now wants the committee to probe whether she provided misleading information at a budget estimates hearing.

Ms Bates, who is the Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, has already updated the parliamentary record over details of her office's contact with registered lobbyists, including former Liberal senator Santo Santoro.

Last Tuesday, Ms Bates tabled an updated version of her lobbyist register, saying the copy presented to last month's budget estimates hearing was inadvertently incomplete.

The oversight was blamed on an administrative error in the printing of the register.

Long-serving Moggill MP Bruce Flegg resigned from his job as Housing and Public Works Minister on Wednesday, in part due to revelations over undisclosed contact between his office and his lobbyist son Jonathon Flegg.

In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, Mr Newman said his and his ministers’ diaries and lobbyist contact registers would be released publicly every month from early next year.

He said his diary for the first six months after the election would be posted online at www.thepremier.qld.gov.au later this week.

Diaries would include information about the Premier’s and his ministers’ meetings, except material that was exempt under the Right to Information and Information Privacy acts.

“We have already put Ministers clearly in charge of their departments again and set high standards for performance. We made lying to Parliament illegal again,” Mr Newman said in a statement.

“Under the LNP government, Queensland is not only open for business, we are also open and accountable.”

On Sunday, Ms Bates's office revealed she had been admitted to hospital following a fall at her home and was set to miss the final sitting week of Parliament.

“She sustained serious injuries to her back and will remain in hospital for up to a week and then on continued medical leave for the next two to three weeks while she recovers,” the minister's office said in a statement.

“Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek will take responsibility for Ms Bates's portfolio whilst she is on leave.”

At a media conference on Monday, Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk said she wanted the ethics committee to investigate the lobbyist register issue.

“I wish Ros Bates a speedy recovery but what I'm very determined to say to the Newman government today is that just because Ros Bates is not going to be at Parliament next week, I expect the Premier and the Education Minister to be fully across the issues surrounding her lobbyist register,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The updated lobbyist register includes additional contact between her office and lobbyist Luke Myers, the brother of Mr Newman's chief of staff Ben Myers.

The corrected version also included several additional contacts between her office and federal Liberal Party vice-president Santo Santoro and his lobbying company.

Last week, Ms Bates said she had believed the lobbyist register was accurate when she tabled the original version but it was later discovered to be incomplete.

“I drew that to the attention of the House as soon as I became aware of the fact,” Ms Bates said.

“Between the tabling of the unintentionally incomplete register at estimates and the tabling of the document on Tuesday, every effort has been made to ensure that the register is accurate.

“In the interests of ensuring total openness and accountability, it was checked and it was double-checked.

“The comprehensive register tabled on Tuesday, to the best of my knowledge, is exactly that— comprehensive. The ministerial code of conduct requires ministers to give accurate and truthful information to parliament and to correct any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity. I have always done this and I will continue to do so.”

Before Mr Newman's announcement, Ms Palaszczuk said she would meet with the Integrity Commissioner to ask for all ministers' lobbyist registers to be made publicly available every six months.

– additional reporting by AAP

63 comments

Good heavens, she IS unlucky isn't she?

Commenter

Tris

Date and time

November 19, 2012, 3:38PM

She can't hide forever...

Commenter

You know wot I'm sayin'?

Date and time

November 19, 2012, 7:19PM

If her injuries are that serious no way will she be back at work in a few weeks , seems very convenient

Commenter

charlie

Date and time

November 19, 2012, 3:52PM

To all Brisbane Times Commentators and Readers . This is John here the son of the frequent blogger who wrote under the Bob Menzies aged 91 years.

Just going through Dad's Computer and I noticed all the stories he commented on as he loved the Brisbane Times and the fellow Commentators - he called them his other family , he never stopped taking about his activities on the Brisbane Times . Hence why I am writting this here today. It is with great sorrow that I have to advise the Dad suffered a massive Stroke Saturday night. He is in a critical condition at this present time.

The Grand Old Man as we call him is facing his greated test and I humbly ask he be in your thoughts and prayers.

I'll keep readers advised of his condition.

John

Commenter

Bob Menzies

Location

Cannon Hill

Date and time

November 19, 2012, 4:06PM

Very sorry to hear that, John. The thoughts with all at BT are with you and your family.

Regards,

Cameron

Commenter

Cameron Atfield, afternoon editor

Location

brisbanetimes.com.au

Date and time

November 19, 2012, 4:19PM

John

I am very saddened to hear this news about BM, my sympathies and thoughts are with you, your father and family. I personally enjoyed BM's comments, so well thought out, full of real history from a man of another time, yet his comments from times past are in these turbulent political times so apt.

Let us hope for all that he pulls through.

Come on BM we want you back on BT.

Commenter

VonBB

Location

Coasta Del Palmer

Date and time

November 19, 2012, 4:25PM

Were you also concerned when Craig Thompson was ill and the coalition demanded medical certificates ?. Whats good for the goose, so oscar and mh say.

Commenter

Shane in QLD

Date and time

November 19, 2012, 4:38PM

Unfortunately there are people who post on here who will demand the LNP release X-Rays of Ms Bates back with dates confirmed by statutory declaration that is signed by Annastacia Palaszczuk. It seems a popular thing to hit a person while they are down.

Commenter

Oscar

Date and time

November 19, 2012, 4:41PM

Injury requires all decent people to hope you get better, but the extent of the fraud, nepotism, lies and arrogance of this government leaves many people with a bitter taste on their mouths. Hence I can understand why people are justifiably sceptical regarding this injury, as Ms Bates has cried wolf a few time already.

Commenter

Honour

Date and time

November 19, 2012, 4:45PM

Faking it runs in the family, why would we assume this is genuine? If she'd acted honestly until now, there might be some sympathy for her.